SNOW PREDICTION FOR D.C. METRO AREA

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A winter storm will dive into the Ohio Valley Tuesday afternoon and then intensify off the coast of Virginia Wednesday.

For some of us the precipitation begins as rain on Tuesday night, but then changes over to heavy, wet snow by dawn Wednesday. This potent area of low pressure will bring a hefty snowfall to the Beltway and beyond, with snow falling throughout the day and into Wednesday evening.

Winter Storm Warnings have already been issued for areas west of the Metro starting this evening.

Some areas in the Northern Shenandoah Valley could see more than a foot of heavy wet snow, possibly even 18". Downtown could even receive six to nine inches of snow coupled with winds over thirty mph winds Wednesday afternoon and night.

That will likely bring down branches and power lines. Southeast of DC, heavy rains will eventually change to snow and that will keep their snow totals on the low end but you are still under a Winter Storm Watch.